Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-10-08

wars 20 rake out some old cry that would
stir UP the recollection of buried feuds, and,
indeed, she soon found an effectual one This
being so, it was of great Importance 70 her
TO have one OF the strangers with her whom
she could show TO the common people as a
great outlander, who had been so struck by
the justice Of her cause that he had elected
TO leave his companions and follow her
standard.
This, no doubt, was the cause of her anxiety
to get a hold of Good, whom she would have
used till he ceased to be of service and then
cast off. But Good having drawn back, she
grasped at the opportunity Of securing Al
phonse, who was not unlike him in personal
appearance, though smaller, no doubt with
the object Of showing him Off in the cities and
country as the great Bougwsn himself.
told Good that / thought that that was her
plan, and his face was a sight TO see, he was
so Mortified at the idea.
"Whatl" he said, "dress up that little
wretch to represent met Why, shall have
to get out of the countryl My reputation will
be ruined forever
Iconsoled him as well as l could, but it is
not pleasant to be personated all over a
strange country by an arrant little coward,
and l can quite sympathize with his vexa-
ton.
Well, that night Good and messed, as l
have said, in solitary grandeur, feeling very
much as though we had just returned from
burying friend instead of marrying one,
and next morning the work began in good
earnest. The messages and orders which had
been dispatched by Nyleptha two days before
now began to take effect, and multitudes of
armed men came pouring into the city. We
saw, as may be imagined, but very little of
Nyleptha and not too much of Curtis during
those next few days, but Good and sat daily
with the council Of generals and loyal lords.
drawing up plans of action, arranging COM
missariat matters, the distribution of COM
mands, and hundred and one other things.
Men came in freely, and all the day long the
great roads leading to Milosis were spotted
with the banners of lords arriving from their
places to rally round Nyleptha.
After the first two days it became clear
that we should be able to take the field with
about forty thousand infantry and twenty
thousand cavalry-a very respectable force,
considering how short was the time we had
to collect IL, and that about half of the reg -
lar army had elected to follow Sorais.
But if our force was large, Sorais' was,
according to the reports brought in day by
day by our spies, much larger She had
taken up her headquarters at a very strong
town called MArstuna, situated, as / have
said, to the north of Milosis, and all the coun-
try side was flocking to her standard. Nasta
had poured down from his highlands, and
was on his way to Join her with no less than
twenty-five thousand of his mountaineers
the most terrible soldiers to face in all Zu-
Vendis. Another mighty lord, named Belu.
sha, who lived IA the great horse breeding
district, had come in with twelve thousand
cavalry, and so on. Indeed, what between
one thing and another, it seemed certain that
she would gather fully armed host of nearly
one hundred thousand men.
And then came the news that she was pro-
posing to break up her camp and march on
the browning City itself, desolating the coun-
try as she came. Thereon arose the question
whether it would be best to meet her at
Milosis or to go out and give her battle.
When our opinion was asked upon the sub
ject, Good and / unhesitatingly gave it in
favor of an advance. If we were to shut our
selves up in the city and wait to be attacked,
it seemed to us that our inaction would be
set down to fear. 1t is so very important,
especially on an occasion of this sort, when a
very little will suffice to turn mems opinions
one way or the other, to be up and doing
something. Ardor for a cause will soon
evaporate if the cause does not move, but sits
down to conquer. Therefore we cast our
vote for moving out and giving battle in the
open, instead Of waiting till we were drawn
from our walls like badger from n hole
Sir Henry's opinion conceded with ours,
and so, needless to say, did that of Nyleptha
who, like flint, was always ready to flash
out fire. A great map of the country was
brought and spread out before her. About
thirty miles this side of M'Arstuna, where
Sorais was and ninety odd miles from Milosis,
the road ran over neck of land some two
and half miles in width, and flanked on
either side by forest clad hills which, without
being lofty. would be quite impracticable for
a great baggage laden army to cross. She
looked earnestly at the map, and then, with a
quickness of perception that in some women
amounts almost to an instinct, she laid her
finger upon this neck of rising ground, and
turning to her husband, said, with proud
air of confidence and a toss Of the golden
head,
"Here shalt thou meet Sorais' armies. /
know the spot; here shalt thou meet them,
and drive them before thee like the dust be-
fore the storm"
But Curtis looked grave and said nothing.
r,ty prrp WV